Golf practice apparatus

ABSTRACT

A cup-like element is provided to enable a golfer to practice putting by directing golf balls toward the element. A pair of the elements may be mounted at opposite ends of an elongated mat of resilient material which is laid on a floor to simulate a golf green. Each cup element has an upstanding curved portion which is juxtaposed with a curved notch in the narrow end of the mat to simulate a golf hole or cup. The cup element is of one-piece plastic construction and has an integral mounting tab which is releasably fastened to the floor by means of adhesive tape. The tab is connected to the curved portion of the cup element by means of a narrow web of material which provides both a hinge and spaced stop surfaces to limit pivotal movement of the curved portion about the tab. When the cup is struck by a ball having a velocity which would normally cause the ball to overshoot a golf hole if the ball were in actual play on a golf green, the curved portion pivots about the tab and permits the ball to roll over the upper edge of the cup element. A backstop extends widthwise of the mat behind each cup element to catch balls which pass over or around the cup element. A golfer practices putting by standing on the widthwise margins of the mat and putting balls toward one or the other cups.

United States Patent [191 Martin Apr. 2, 1974 GOLF PRACTICE APPARATUS[76] Inventor: Frank V. Martin, 214 Roosevelt Blvd. S., Brigantine, NJ.08203 22 Filed: Dec. 14,1972

21 Appl. No.: 315,105

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,619,580 3/1927 Long273/177 A 3,033,571 5/1962 273/127 D 3,345,072 10/1967 273/177 A3,464,704 9/1969 273/180 X 3,603,594 9/1971 Kelley 273/180 7' PrimaryExaminer-George J. Marlo Attorney, Agent, orFi'rm-Howson & Howson,Stanley B. Kita [57] ABSTRACT A cup-like element is provided to enable agolfer to practice putting by directing golf balls toward the element. Apair of the elements may be mounted at 0pposite ends of an elongated matof resilient material which is laid on a floor to simulate a golf green.Each cup element has an upstanding curved portion which is juxtaposedwith a curved notch in the narrow end of the mat to simulate a golf holeor cup. The cup element is of one-piece plastic construction and has anintegral mounting tab which is releasably fastened to the floor by meansof adhesive tape. The tab is connected to the curved portion of the cupelement by means of a narrow web of material which provides both a hingeand spaced stop surfaces to limit pivotal movement of the curved portionabout the tab. When the cup is struck by a ball having a velocity whichwould normally cause the ball to overshoot a golf hole if the ball werein actual play on a golf green, the curved portion pivots about the taband permits the ball to roll over the upper edge of the cup element. Abackstop extends widthwise of the mat behind each cup element to catchballs which pass over or around the cup element. A golfer practicesputting by standing on the widthwise margins of the mat and puttingballs toward one or the other cups.

11 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures GOLF PRACTICE APPARATUS The presentinvention relates to training apparatus for golfers, and moreparticularly, the present invention relates to apparatus for enabling agolfer to develop his putting skills.

The present invention is described in Disclosure Document No. 006555filed Sept. 7, 1971.

Various types of devices are known for enabling golfers to develop theirputting skills either indoors or outdoors. Examples of such devices aredescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,345,072 and 3,603,594, the earlier patenthaving issued to me. Although each of these devices may be satisfactory,each possesses certain limitations. For instance, in using the device ofthe first-mentioned patent, the golfer stands at one putting locationwhile putting toward cups provided in a mat. Hence, he must continuallywalk back and forth between the cups and the putting location toretrieve and putt balls.

In my previously patented device, a multi-element structure whichsimulates a golf-cup is. removably mounted on a horizontal surface suchas a floor or a lawn by means of a mounting tab. The device includes ametal cup which is bent into a U-shaped configuration for catching golfballs and a hinge assembly which permits the cup to pivot upwardlyrelative to the mounting tab when struck by a ball rolling at a velocitywhich would normally cause it to overshoot a golf hole if the ball werein actual play.

Although the device operates effectively, it is not as inexpensive tomanufacture as desired. For instance, the hinge assembly requires aseries of bending, piercing and like operations on metal-workingmachinery. The cost to tool machinery to perform these operations andthe labor required to operate the machinery prevents the device frombeing manufactured economically.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the presentinvention to provide improved apparatus for use by a golfer to assisthim in developing his putting skills.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novelgolf-practice device which includes spaced target areas having meanssimulating golf cups so that a golfer may putt a golf ball first in onedirection and then in another.

As a further object, the present invention provides a unique puttingpractice device which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide aputting-practice apparatus which accurately simulates conditions on agolf green.

More specifically, in the present invention, apparatus is provided toenable a golfer to develop his putting skills indoors, without requiringactual golf holes. For this purpose, cup-like means which simulates agolf hole is provided. The cup-like means may be used in conjunctionwith an elongated mat of resilient material, which is normally disposedon a horizontal surface such as a floor, and a pair of the simulatedgolf cups are mounted at opposite narrow ends of the mat for catchinggolf balls. Each cup means includes a cup element having an upstandingcurved portion juxtaposed with respect to a curved notch in the narrowend of the mat to simulate a golf cup or hole. The cup element has anintegral tab which is releasably fastened to the floor as by adhesivetape. The tab is hinged to the curved portion by means of a narrow webof material so that the curved portion pivots upwardly about the tab andaway from the notch when struck by a golf ball rolling at too high avelocity. A pair of stop surfaces are provided by the web of materialwith the surfaces engaging one another to limit pivotal movement of thecurved portion relative to the tab. A curved backstop extends widthwiseof the mat behind each cup element to catch golf balls which either missthe cup element or which roll over its upper edge.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention should become apparent from the following description whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of putting-practice apparatus embodying thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the area enclosed by the broken lines inFIG. 1, the view illustrating a cup-like element juxtaposed witha curvednotch in a mat to simulate a golf cup;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged sectional view of the area enclosed bybroken lines in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a cup element; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a backstop which is associated with eachcup element.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIG. 1putting-practice apparatus 10 embodying the present invention. Asillustrated therein, the apparatus 10 comprises an elongated mat II anda pair of cuplike means 12 and 13 for receiving golf balls. The cuplikemeans 12 and 13 are provided at opposite ends of the mat 11 and simulategolf holes or cups toward which a golfer may putt golf balls.

In the present instance, the mat 11 is rectangular, and in use, the mat11 is laid on a horizontal surface such as a floor 17. The mat 11 has alengthwise dimension of at least 12 feet to permit a golfer to practicelong putts, and the mat 11 is dimensioned widthwise to permit the golferto stand on its lengthwise margins while putting. Preferably, the mat l1 is fabricated of a greencolored foamed plastic material which has auniform thickness of about V2 inch throughout. Alternatively, the matmay be fabricated of an artificial turf material or a material which hasa grass-like texture. It has been found that such material provides asmall amount of drag on a golf ball, and that the drag simulates thedrag normally encountered on a golf green.

In accordance with the present invention, the ball receiving means isdesigned to provide a golfer using the apparatus with an immediateindication of the quality of his putt. For instance, a putt in which agolf ball is aimed properly but struck with too great a force could beclassified as a poor putt because of the likelihood that the ball wouldovershoot a golf cup if the ball were in actual play. A golf ball whichis struck with the proper force to travel at a moderate velocity butwhich is improperly aimed so as to miss the cup or to strike the cuptangentially and thereby spin out would also be classified as a poor"putt for obvious reasons.

In the apparatus 10, each cup, such as the left hand dius of curvatureof the cup element and the notch 14 is about 2 V4 inches so that whenjuxtaposed, the cup 12 has a diameter of about 4 k inches.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the cup element 15 has a mounting tab 18 whichextends away from the notch 14 for mounting the cup element 15 to thefloor 17. Preferably, the tab 18 is releasably fastened to the floor 17by means of an adhesive tape 19. However, the tab 18 is also providedwith a pair of holes 20,20 to permit the cup element 15 to bepermanently fastened to the floor 17 or removably fastened to an earthenoutdoor surface by means of staples such as described in myaforementioned patent.

As may be seen in FIG. 3, the height of the curved legs 15a and 15b ofthe cup element 15 is greater than the thickness of the mat 11. In thepresent instance, the height is about 1 inch so that each cup elementprojects about inch above the upper surface of the mat 11. Preferably,the ends 150 and 15d of the legs taper toward the floor 17 adjacent thenotch 14.

The cup element 15 is inexpensive but durable. In the illustratedembodiment, the cup element 15 is of onepiece plastic construction andthe plastic is of a heatsettable type which enables the legs 15a and 15bto be shaped and set into their curved configurations. It is noted thatthe plastic material is somewhat elastic so that the legs 15a and 15bmay deflect slightly when struck by a golf ball and they may return totheir undeflected positions as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In order to enable the curved leg portion of the cup element 15 to pivotupwardly relative to the floor 17, a hinged connection 22 is providedbetween the mounting tab 18 and the curved legs 15a and 1517. In thepresent invention, the hinged connection 22 has a pivotal axis which isdisposed horizontally and is formed by a thin web 23 of plastic material(FIGS. 2 and 4) which is located in a necked-down zone 24 along the lineof juncture of the mounting tab 18 and the curved portion of the cupelement 15. The web 23 results when the mounting tab 18 is bent into aright angle with respect to the curved portion of the cup element 15. Itis noted that the plastic material ruptures slightly and provides a pairof stops or limit surfaces 24 and 25 which are located on the side ofthe tab 18 away from the surface 17 and which engage one another tolimit pivotal movement of the element 15 relative to its mounting tab18. For instance, as best seen in FIG. 3, the stops 24 and 25 engage oneanother to prevent the curved portion of the cup element 15 frompivoting more than 45 from its normal ball-receiving position.Preferably the pivotal axis of the hinge is perpendicular to thelongitudinal center line of the mat to insure proper tilting of the cupelement when the ball is stroked from the opposite end of the mat. It isnoted that this hinge structure tends to bias the ends 150 and 15d ofthe legs 15a and 15b, respectively into flush engagement with the floor17. Thus, the cup element 15 is normally returned to juxtaposition withthe notch 14 as illustrated in full lines in FIG. 3 after a ball, suchas the ball 29, engages the cup and is retained in the cup element 15 orpasses over its upper edge.

The cup element 15 of the present invention has been tested and found tobe fatigue resistant. For example, a cup element 15 having a thicknessof 1/16 inch and a necked down zone 24 of A inch was found to be capableof withstanding without failure more than 4000 flexures between itslimit positions illustrated in full and broken lines in FIG. 3.

It has been found that the apparatus of the present invention providesan accurate simulation of conditions on a golf green if the cup element15 is capable of being deflected or pivoted into its limit positionillustrated by broken lines in FIG. 3 by a force of 5 ounces appliedalong a horizontal line spaced from the floor 17 a distancecorresponding to the radius of a golf ball. Tests indicate that suchforce represents the force imparted to the cup element 15 by a ballrolling at a velocity which would normally cause the ball to overshoot agolf hole or cup if the ball were in actual play. Hence, by designingthe cup element 15 to pivot or deflect under the influence of such aforce, the golfer is provided with an immediate and accurate indicationas to the speed of the ball and hence of the force with which the ballwas struck while putting.

For the purpose of catching golf balls which miss or roll over the upperedge of the cup element 15, a backstop 30 is provided. As best seen inFIG. 1, the backstop 30 is curved and extends substantially widthwise ofthe mat l1 behind each cup element 15. As illustrated in FIG. 6, thebackstop 30 is mounted in an upright position by a pair of invertedU-shaped clips 31,31 having depending legs 31a, 31a which embrace thebackstop 30. The legs 31a, 31a terminate in out-turned extensions 31b,311) which engage the floor 17. Like the cup element 15, the backstop 30is preverably fabricated of heat-settable plastic material.

In use, the mat 11 is laid on the floor 17 and the tab 18 of each cupelement 15 is secured to the floor 17 by a strip of tape 19. Thebackstops 30,30 are similarly installed. A golfer practices putting byplacing a golf ball on the mat 11 and putting the ball toward one or theother cups 12 or 13 while standing on the margin of the mat 11. If heputts the ball too hard he is immediately aware of his error because aball so struck will overrun the cup element and cause it to tilt orpivot upwardly beyond the 45 limit. However, when the ball is puttedproperly, it is caught by the cup element and is retained.

In view of the foregoing, it should be apparent that a golfer may puttone or more golf balls first in one direction and then in the otherwithout having to return to a prescribed starting location before eachputt.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been describedin detail, various modifications, alterations and changes may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention asdefined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for use by a golfer on a horizontal surface to assist himin developing his putting skills, comprising: an elongated mat ofuniform thickness disposed on said surface and having opposite ends eachhaving a curved notch, a cup element associated with each notch, eachcup element having a curved ball-engaging portion and an integralmounting tab, means to fasten said tab to said surface with said cupelements juxtaposed with respect to said notches to simulate golf cupsat said ends of said mat, means providing a hinge having a horizontalpivotal axis between said tab and said curved portion, and meansproviding stops between said tab and said curved portion to limitpivotal movement of said curved portion relative to said tab, wherebythe curved portion of the cup element pivots relative to the tab whenstruck by a ball rolling at an excessive velocity.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cup element has a heightgreater than the thickness of the mat so as to project above the uppersurface of the mat.

3. Apparatus according to claim I wherein said mat is fabricated of aresilient foamed plastic material and has a widthwise dimensionsufficient to accommodate a player so that the player may stand on thelengthwise margins of the mat while putting.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said mat is rectangular andsaid notches are located centrally in its narrow ends.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cup element is of onepiece plastic material and said hinge providing means includes a web ofsaid material located at the juncture of said mounting tab and saidcurved portion.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said curved portion includes apair of resilient legs curving away from said tab and toward said notchwith the terminus of each leg tapering toward said surface.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said stop means includes apair of edges provided by said web of material and located inclosely-spaced relation for engaging one another when the curved portionof the cup element is disposed at substantially a 45 angle with respectto said tab.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a curved upstanding backstopextending substantially widthwise of said mat a spaced distance behindeach cup element,

and a pair of inverted U-shaped clips embracing said backstop in spacedrelation and having depending legs with extensions engaging saidsurface, so that said backstop catches golf balls which miss and overrunthe cup elements.

9. A cup for use on a horizontal surface to catch golf balls comprising:a one-piece element of plastic material having a pair of curved legs andan integral mounting tab extending away from the curved legs to enablesaid element to be mounted on said surface, said mounting tab having anecked-down web portion at its juncture with said legs to provide ahinge permitting said legs to pivot on a horizontal axis relative tosaid mounting tab, said necked-down web portion being ruptured slightlyon the side away from the horizontal surface to define a pair of closelyspaced stop surfaces which engage one another for limiting pivotalmovement of the curved legs relative to the mounting tab.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the curved legs of. said cupelement have a height of substantially 1 inch and a thickness ofsubstantially 1/16 inch and said tab has a widthwise dimension ofsubstantially A1 inch at its juncture with the legs, said closelyspacedsurfaces engaging one another when said legs are disposed at an angle ofsubstantially 45 with said horizontal surface.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said closely-spaced surfacesare engaged with one another when a force of substantially 5 Va ouncesis applied along a horizontal line spaced from said surface a distancecorresponding to the radius of a golf ball.

1. Apparatus for use by a golfer on a horizontal surface to assist himin developing his putting skills, comprising: an elongated mat ofuniform thickness disposed on said surface and having opposite ends eachhaving a curved notch, a cup element associated with each notch, eachcup element having a curved ball-engaging portion and an integralmounting tab, means to fasten said tab to said surface with said cupelements juxtaposed with respect to said notches to simulate golf cupsat said ends of said mat, means providing a hinge having a horizontalpivotal axis between said tab and said curved portion, and meansproviding stops between said tab and said curved portion to limitpivotal movement of said curved portion relative to said tab, wherebythe curved portion of the cup element pivots relative to the tab whenstruck by a ball rolling at an excessive velocity.
 2. Apparatusaccording to claim 1 wheRein said cup element has a height greater thanthe thickness of the mat so as to project above the upper surface of themat.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said mat is fabricated ofa resilient foamed plastic material and has a widthwise dimensionsufficient to accommodate a player so that the player may stand on thelengthwise margins of the mat while putting.
 4. Apparatus according toclaim 1 wherein said mat is rectangular and said notches are locatedcentrally in its narrow ends.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 whereinsaid cup element is of one piece plastic material and said hingeproviding means includes a web of said material located at the junctureof said mounting tab and said curved portion.
 6. Apparatus according toclaim 5 wherein said curved portion includes a pair of resilient legscurving away from said tab and toward said notch with the terminus ofeach leg tapering toward said surface.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 5wherein said stop means includes a pair of edges provided by said web ofmaterial and located in closely-spaced relation for engaging one anotherwhen the curved portion of the cup element is disposed at substantiallya 45* angle with respect to said tab.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 1including a curved upstanding backstop extending substantially widthwiseof said mat a spaced distance behind each cup element, and a pair ofinverted U-shaped clips embracing said backstop in spaced relation andhaving depending legs with extensions engaging said surface, so thatsaid backstop catches golf balls which miss and overrun the cupelements.
 9. A cup for use on a horizontal surface to catch golf ballscomprising: a one-piece element of plastic material having a pair ofcurved legs and an integral mounting tab extending away from the curvedlegs to enable said element to be mounted on said surface, said mountingtab having a necked-down web portion at its juncture with said legs toprovide a hinge permitting said legs to pivot on a horizontal axisrelative to said mounting tab, said necked-down web portion beingruptured slightly on the side away from the horizontal surface to definea pair of closely spaced stop surfaces which engage one another forlimiting pivotal movement of the curved legs relative to the mountingtab.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the curved legs of saidcup element have a height of substantially 1 inch and a thickness ofsubstantially 1/16 inch and said tab has a widthwise dimension ofsubstantially 1/4 inch at its juncture with the legs, saidclosely-spaced surfaces engaging one another when said legs are disposedat an angle of substantially 45* with said horizontal surface. 11.Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said closely-spaced surfaces areengaged with one another when a force of substantially 5 1/2 ounces isapplied along a horizontal line spaced from said surface a distancecorresponding to the radius of a golf ball.